N. Ireland - Simmental Heifers to 6,000gns

14 May 2011

A good show of stock, with an impressive line-up of heifers, was how County Mayo judge, Gerry Lenehan, described this week’s Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club show and sale, held at Dungannon.

The reserve male champion, Cleenagh Big Ben, sold at 4,000gns for Clive and Thomas Richardson, Maguiresbridge. Included is judge, Gerry Lenehan, County Mayo.

Making his debut judging appearance in Northern Ireland, Mr Lenehan, who runs the Rathlee herd based in Ballina, said:”The overall standard of entries has been very good. There were some top quality bulls at the forward end of each class, but the heifers were of a very high standard. “

Bulls were first to come under the hammer at the County Tyrone venue which saw 18 lots change hands to average £2,596 – an increase of £146 on this time last year.

Trade was led at 4,000gns by the reserve male champion, Cleenagh Big Ben, brought out by the father and son team of Adrian and Clive Richardson, Maguiresbridge. This fifteen-month-old entry was sired by Omorga Murray, and is bred from the Hillcrest Champion daughter, Cleenagh Poppy. He has a Breed Plan terminal sire index of +23, a milk value of +4, and sold to James Newell from Ballymoney, County Antrim.

First-time exhibitors at Dungannon, Val and Conrad Fegan from Rostrevor, realised 3,800gns for the second prize winning Knockreagh Barney. This February 2010 born entry was sired by the Cleenagh Flasher son, Omorga Volvo, and is out of a home-bred dam by Kilbride Farm Nemesis. He sold to Francis Watson, Cloughey, Newtownards.

Next best at 3,600gns was the unplaced Ranfurly Arkansas consigned by David Hazelton, Dungannon. Born in October 2009, he was sired by Whitemire King Kong, and is out of a home-bred dam by the German-bred Balist. This bull boasts a milk value of +12 – the highest in the catalogue – and sold to John Raffery from Pomeroy, County Tyrone.

Following close behind at 3,400gns was the first prize winning Ranfurly Alaska, also brought out by David Hazelton. Sired by Seabank Flint, this sixteen-month-old bull is out of a home-bred Raceview King daughter. Snapped up by the Nugent Estate, Portaferry, he has a terminal sire index of +21 and is +4 for milk.

David Hazelton sold three home-bred bulls to average £3,360 per head.

Also selling at 3,400gns was the fourth prize winning Drumlone Brandy bred by Kenny Vetich, Lisbellaw. This thirteen-month-old bull is by the Milton Lord Tiffany son, Brookwood Premier, and is out of a dam carrying the Ballagan prefix. The buyer was Allan Croskery, Downpatrick.

The father and son team of Robert and Richard Rodgers, Portglenone, sold two bulls from their Hiltonstown herd for 2,800gns each. First into the sale ring was the fifth prize winning Hiltonstown Anders. This September 2009 born entry was sired by the Hillcrest Champion son, Curaheen Tyson, and is bred from a dam carrying the Ballintlea prefix. Buyer was pedigree breeder, Chris Traynor, Armagh.

The November 2009 born Hiltonstown Avram sold to James Sayers, Strabane. He was sired by the Omorga Murray son, Slievenagh Valiant, and is out of a home-bred Woodhall Premier dam. This bull has a terminal sire index of +27.

Judge, Gerry Lenehan awarded the male and supreme overall champion ribbons to the July 2009 born Derrycallaghan Ablaze, brought out by Harold Stubbs, Lisbellaw, and grandson, Alan Burleigh, Florencecourt. He was sired by the home-bred Derrycallaghan Tick-Tack, and is out of a Dyfed Hello 97th daughter carrying the Dema prefix. This bull failed to meet his reserve and was withdrawn from the sale ring.

The 6,000gns female and reserve supreme champion Cleenagh Blanche with Adrian Richardson, and grandson, Thomas. Included is Gerry Lenehan, County Mayo, judge.

Topping the female trade at 6,000gns was the female and reserve supreme champion, Cleenagh Blanche, an embryo transplant daughter of Omorga Murray – sire of last year’s 12,000gns elite sale record breaker, Cleenagh Avon. Also consigned by Adrian and Clive Richardson, this fifteen-month-old heifer was bred from a dam carrying the Raceview prefix.

Described by the judge as a ‘super heifer’, she attracted strong attention from the packed ringside audience, with several pedigree breeders aspiring to secure her for their herds. The successful bidder was Chris Traynor who recently established a new herd at Rose Meadow Farm near Armagh.

The second prize winning Longbeach Amy, brought out by Sean Burns, Rathfriland, also caught Mr Taynor’s eye at 3,800gns. Born in November 2009, she is by the Seaview Prince Charming son, Kilbride Farm Viduka, and is out of a home-bred dam – one of 25 cows in Mr Burns’ herd. Sean Burns has been breeding Simmentals since 1986 and was delighted with his success, especially as it’s the first time he has shown a heifer at a club show and sale.

William Ferguson, Stewartstown, realised 3,000gns for the second prize winning Sperrin View Beauty. Almost twelve-months-old she is by Delfur T-Bone, and out of a home-bred Kilbride Farm Newry daughter. Buyer was Stephen Etherson, Ballymoney, County Antrim.

The July 2009 born Sperrin View Adele notched up the reserve female championship honours and sold at 2,600gns for William Ferguson. She is by the Starline Nelson son, Dirnanean Salvador, and is out of home-bred Starline Klassik dam. This one was snapped up by Rodger Henderson,

Tobermore, County Londonderry.

Next best at 2,300gns was the fourth prize winning Lakeside Avril, an August 2009 born Omorga Regan daughter, shown by Ceci l Chartres and David Farrell, Lisnaskea.

Auctioneer Trevor Wylie said there was roaring trade for pedigree heifers, and a complete clearance which saw 20 lots selling to average £2,210 per head.

There was a strong demand for commercial Simmental females, with prices soaring to £346.90 per 100 kilos, paid to Eamon McCloskey, Kilrea, for a 490kgs heifer which sold for £1,700.

Other leading prices include: RJ and SR Mawhinney, £1,140 (£285 per 100kgs) for a 400kgs heifer, and £1,020 (£237.20 per 100kgs) for a 430kgs heifer; R N Weatherup, £1,400 (£266.70 per 100kgs) for a 525kgs heifer; David Henderson, £1,180 (£251.10 per 100kgs) for a 470kgs heifer, and £1,080 (£245.50 per 100kgs) for a 440kgs heifer; Eamon McCloskey, £1,300 (£245.30 per 100 kilos) for a 530kgs heifer, and £1,100 (£250 per 100 kilos) for a 440kgs heifer; Maureen Fegan, £1,180 (£245.80 per 100kgs) for a 480kgs heifer.

In-calf heifers reached a peak of £1,520, paid to William Nelson. Other leading prices include: Stephen Maguire, £1,280, £1,260 and £1,020; Adrian Richardson, £1,260 and £1,140; David Henderson, £1,280.

Heifers and cows with calf at foot sold to a top of £1,560, paid to E Reaney; while John McCann received £1,520, £1,400 and £1,200. Philip Hadden received £1,340 and £1,320.

The NI Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club is indebted to its sponsors, Northern Bank and Connon General Merchants (Ballymena) for its generous financial support.Results from the pedigree judging ring: